September 28, 2025

Upsilon Pi Epsilon at CGU Hosts Alumni and Expert Panel on “AI and Society: Community, Sustainability, and Ethical Innovation Practices”

Claremont, CA – September 26, 2025 – The Center for Information Systems and Technology at Claremont Graduate University celebrated our acceptance into Upsilon Pi Epsilon (UPE), an internationally-recognized honor society dedicated to scholarly excellence in the computing and information disciplines, celebrating our enduring flames for knowledge and discovery!

Membership in UPE is reserved for students with outstanding academic achievement, initiating members are required to have GPA of 3.6 or higher in computing, information systems, and technology coursework. UPE is uniquely recognized by both the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the IEEE Computer Society (IEEE-CS), the two largest global professional organizations in computing and technology.

Our charter event opened with remarks from CGU Interim President Michelle Bligh and CISAT Professor Dr. Samir Chatterjee, setting the stage for an expert panel on a timely and pressing theme in computing and technology research: “AI and Society: Community, Sustainability, and Ethical Innovation Practices.”

We enjoyed an engaging and thoughtful discussion with our panelists compassing timely topics in today’s technology sector:

Ethics & Trust – What’s one ethical challenge you’ve encountered in today’s AI initiatives, and what concrete steps can technologists take to address and strengthen user trust?
Cross-Cultural Connection – How have you seen AI-powered tools foster genuine cross-cultural understanding, and what advice would you give to developers aiming to use technology to connect global communities?
Transparency & Impact – AI is often seen as a “black box,” and yet simultaneously holds immense possibility for positive change. How can we overcome barriers like mistrust or inaccessibility to deliver measurable benefits for a community, and how could we ensure transparency in the process?
Future Innovation – What advice would you give someone interested in technological innovation combining academic research with tangible community impact?

Upsilon Pi Epsilon was honored to have the presence of four CISAT alumni and leading industry experts share insights from a wide range of expertise: from impactful applications in special education, accurate representation of diverse populations in healthcare data, equitable approaches to AI training, and the criticality of centering the human experience throughout business and development.

Mahesh, a panelist, founder, and esteemed member of the Claremont technology community, speaks on trustworthy population representation in health intelligence.

Panelists shared insights from a wide range of expertise: from impactful applications in special education, accurate representation of diverse populations in healthcare data, equitable approaches to AI training, and the criticality of centering the human experience throughout business and development.

Dr. Vanessa Arias Casillas speaks from her perspective as Program Coordinator at Claremont McKenna College’s Murty Sunak Quantitative and Computing Lab on training and development practice for explainable technology.

Scholars and researchers at Claremont Graduate University, Center for Information Systems and Technology are uniquely positioned to pursue excellence in computing and technology, with access to both high-performance computing resources as well as expertise in a wide variety of fields relevant to technology, spanning geographical information systems (GIS), data analytics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, management, and business.

Dr. DeMaree (Dom) Williams draws on his perspective as a community leader and founder in the AI technology sector to discuss community impact of today’s AI applications, especially critical populations.

UPE charter members appreciated meeting distinguished graduates from the Doctor of Technology (DTech) program at Claremont Graduate University’s Center for Information Systems and Technology. DTech panelists inspired our student chapter with a nuanced perspective of transparent yet impactful technology with applications that aid the lives of the most vulnerable populations in our community.

At the Academic Computing Building, Lily Xiong speaks from her expertise as a founder in the EdTech sector to share practices in developing AI-powered solutions centered around user trust and experience.

Students and graduates of Claremont Graduate University, Center for Information Systems thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to have a lively and insightful discussion from a respected panel of experts and alumni of the Claremont collegiate community! This inspiring exchange equipped our student members with practical strategies, broadened perspectives on innovation, and reaffirmed the vital role of ethical leadership in shaping the future of technology.

Attendees spanning Claremont staff, students, and faculty gathered for an exciting panel of academic and industry experts in the technology and information sectors

UPE extends heartfelt gratitude to the Claremont academic community for their insights and discussions with our founding charter members, providing new perspectives on the pursuit of scholarly excellence, and igniting our collective passion for knowledge, ethical innovation, and community.

After the panel, faculty, students, and staff met a charming robotic friend!

Acknowledgements

We appreciate our panel of leading Claremont technology experts in industry and academia who shared their perspectives on critical questions shaping the future of AI. UPE’s student, staff, and faculty charter members were honored to discuss “AI and Society: Community, Sustainability, and Ethical Innovation Practices” with our panelists.

Mahesh Balan

Mahesh Balan is the founder of Pravici.com and a thought leader and patent holder in the use of blockchain technology for loyalty and rewards. He is currently pursuing a doctorate at Claremont Graduate University with a focus on health data wallets, data valuation, and federated learning for healthcare.

Lily Xiong

Lily Xiong is the founder and CEO of Hanbridge LLC and the AI+X Global Innovation Institute. She holds an MBA from the Drucker School and is currently a Doctor of Technology candidate at Claremont Graduate University specializing in AI for education. She leads the development of AI+X curricula and intelligent teaching agents, advancing the integration of robotics and generative AI in learning systems while promoting responsible innovation across global collaboration networks.

Dr. Vanessa Arias Casillas

Dr. Vanessa Arias Casillas earned her Ph.D. in Information Systems and Technology with a focus on Geographical Information Systems (GIS) from Claremont Graduate University. With a background in Latino Studies and Business Administration, Dr. Vanessa Arias Casillas has built a career marked by a commitment to community-driven, innovative projects. She is now Program Coordinator at Claremont McKenna College’s Murty Sunak Quantitative and Computing Lab.

Dr. DeMaree Williams

Dr. DeMaree (Dom) Williams is an entrepreneur, educator, and CEO of Living Life Through Love, a nonprofit focused on affordable housing and financial literacy. He is also the founder of Edusist, where he leads the development of Clare, an AI-powered digital assistant for personalized learning. With a Doctor of Technology, two master’s degrees, and years of teaching experience, he blends innovation, education, and community impact to create lasting change.

UPE at CGU extends its gratitude to Dr. Peter Clarke for his presence and guidance towards initiating our founding charter members. We also thank Dr. Samir Chatterjee, Dr. Itamar Shabtai, and Dr. Michelle Bligh for their invaluable support and guidance in making this milestone possible. UPE is honored to pursue excellence in computing, information, and technology disciplines at Claremont Graduate University, Center for Information Systems and Technology.